The Wings For Life World Run is the biggest running event in the world, and it’s all for charity. 100% of proceedings go to spinal cord injury research, giving hope to thousands of people around the world. This year a record shattering 265 818 people from 169 countries across the globe set off at the same time to run, walk or roll, and raised an astonishing 8,1 million euros for the cause. The total distance covered? Nearly 50 laps around our planet.
Helping towards that impressive total was two app run events in Sweden, one in Stockholm and for the first time, Leksand. Additionally, people across Sweden also participated via the app, an opportunity to join in on the fun without having to come to a specific event.
The app format of this event makes it highly unique and inclusive. You don’t have to cover a specific distance but can choose how far you want to go thanks to a moving finish line in the app. When it catches up with you, you cross the finish line. In this race the important thing is not how far you go, it’s that you participate!
The first Leksand App run event, hopefully back even bigger next year
© Emrik Jansson
An event for all ages and all fitness levels – it’s about particpating
© Chris Lanaway
Stockholm was wet and cold but that didn’t stop this eager bunch
© Chris Lanaway
01
Soaked in Stockholm? No problem.
The Stockholm City event definitely put on a memorable show, to say the least. The warming sunshine and summer vibes from the day before was washed away with a huge downpour and temperatures in the single digits. Despite Mother Nature’s unfortunate timing, plenty of runners, walkers and wheelchair users put on their best smiles and tackled the task at hand brilliantly. Running around a four kilometre long marked loop in Djurgården the soaked participants put in an impressive effort.
How it feels running for a good cause
© Chris Lanaway
Wheelchair users and runners start side by side
© Chris Lanaway
Dogs are always welcome!
© Chris Lanaway
Jakob Cederlöf covered the biggest distance of the day stacking up a total of 44,81 kilometres, placing him 191st in the entire world. Emma Olausson also impressed by smashing out 28,16 kilometres.
It was Jakob’s first time participating in the event and he wasn’t scared off by the weather: “I actually though it was pretty nice that it was cold. I’d rather freeze than be too hot during a run. I also had an extra layer with me that I put on when the rain didn’t want to ease up.”
His goal was to run 43 kilometers and after checking on the website beforehand he knew what tempo he needed to keep in order to do so: “I wanted to get a good long-distance run in before some upcoming races but I felt fresher than expected on the day and I managed to run a little bit further. I really like the venue and the course, which was long enough to not gate same-y but short enough that you could see the other runners. It felt really fun and inspiring to run for a good cause!
It felt really fun and inspiring to run for a good cause!
Emma Olausson winning the women’s category in Stockholm
© Chris Lanaway
Rain didn’t stop this duo from putting in some steps
© Chris Lanaway
Check out all the photos from the Stockholm App Run here:
Some big profiles at the Stockholm app run event
© Chris Lanaway
Backcountry snowmobiler Andreas Bergmark made the drip down south to join
© Chris Lanaway
Sheltering from the rain, people didn’t let the weather stop them
© Chris Lanaway
This year’s yellow Adidas WFLWR jersey brightning up the grey day
© Chris Lanaway
Djurgården was a new location for 2024
© Chris Lanaway
Participants at Wings For Life World Run App Event Stockholm 2024
© Chris Lanaway
Such troopers!
© Chris Lanaway
Professional freeskier Jesper Tjäder changed snow for rain
© Chris Lanaway
Bergmark, Forte, Augustinus, Ax Schwartz and Svahn
© Chris Lanaway
Andreas Bergmark is one of the world’s best backcountry snowmobilers
© Chris Lanaway
That post run feeling
© Chris Lanaway
Participants at Wings For Life World Run App Event Stockholm 2024
© Chris Lanaway
Kitted out for a rainy run
© Chris Lanaway
The spirit of this event is something else
© Chris Lanaway
Swedes running in pretty Swedish weather
© Chris Lanaway
Djurgården provided a pretty backdrop for the runners
© Chris Lanaway
Snowboarder Jesse Augustinus provided the smiles all day long
© Chris Lanaway
Everyone did a top job
© Chris Lanaway
Wearing a few more layers than expected in May
© Chris Lanaway
A base layer on kind of day
© Chris Lanaway
Both hydration and food stations were lining the course in Stockholm
© Chris Lanaway
Time to rehydrate
© Chris Lanaway
Never know when that backpack rain protector is going to come in handy
© Chris Lanaway
A massive thank you to everyone who showed up
© Chris Lanaway
Jesse with the smiles!
© Chris Lanaway
Another happy finisher
© Chris Lanaway
Participants at Wings For Life World Run App Event Stockholm 2024
© Chris Lanaway
Just keep swimming… eh running!
© Chris Lanaway
Participant at the Wings For Life World Run App Run event in Stockholm
© Chris Lanaway
Linn Svahn excited for the run
© Chris Lanaway
Participants at Wings For Life World Run App Event Stockholm 2024
© Chris Lanaway
One of 265 818 runners at the 2024 Wings For Life World Run
© Chris Lanaway
Now that’s a job well done
© Chris Lanaway
Participant at Wings For Life World Run App Event Stockholm 2024
© Chris Lanaway
Jesse on a roll
© Chris Lanaway
Everyone who ran deserved a fist pump
© Chris Lanaway
Very impressive runs all around
© Chris Lanaway
When a thumbs up is all you need
© Chris Lanaway
Sunglasses to pretend it’s sunny. Not a bad idea
© Chris Lanaway
Blurry stoke
© Chris Lanaway
Particpants at Wings For Life World Run App Event Stockholm 2024
© Chris Lanaway
Participant at Wings For Life World Run App Event Stockholm 2024
© Chris Lanaway
Happy runner
© Chris Lanaway
Only good times at the Wings For Life World Run
© Chris Lanaway
That post run high
© Chris Lanaway
02
Only good vibes in Leksand
For the first time the app run event came to Leksand in honor of Wings For Life World Run Ambassador Tobias Forsberg. A smaller scale event, but with plenty of love to go around. Spring was in the air and in the steps of the participants who made it all into a lovely day out. The scenic route took the participant along the waterfront, past Tegera Arena, where Tobias had his accident back in 2018, and back down and round again. Tobias and his wife Filippa were so happy with how the day turned out.To see old and young run with a big smile on their face was amazing.
Good times only in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Tobias and Filippa were really happy with how the day turned out
© Emrik Jansson
This is a race where you decide your own pace and distance
© Emrik Jansson
The routes are wheelchair friendly so that everyone can participate
© Emrik Jansson
A team effort that raised over 8 million euros
© Emrik Jansson
“A big thank you to everyone who came to participate and support the research made into spinal cord injuries. We hope we see you again next year” the couple said.
Check out all the pictures from Leksand here:
Tobias and crew doing laps
© Emrik Jansson
Happy runners in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
The race is run and recorded in the app
© Emrik Jansson
Tobias rolling with his crew
© Emrik Jansson
Participants at the App Run event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Participants at the App Run event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Waterfront runs are always a bonus
© Emrik Jansson
Leksand was showing off much better weather than the capital
© Emrik Jansson
Participants at the App Run event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Participants at the App Run event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Leksand’s route was a varied one meandering throw town and along the water
© Emrik Jansson
Leksand participants starting off their run
© Emrik Jansson
More happy runners in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Tobias leading out the Leksand group
© Emrik Jansson
In good company, the Leksand event had a social and chill focus this year
© Emrik Jansson
An amazing team effort from everyone
© Emrik Jansson
Varied terrain and sights made for a fun course in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Warming up ahead of the event
© Emrik Jansson
The cool thing about the app is you can check all your stats straight away
© Emrik Jansson
Participant at the App Run event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Rehydrating mid-run
© Emrik Jansson
A small but mighty lineup at the event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
The route took the practicpants in and around parts of Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Not a bad spot for a run
© Emrik Jansson
Tobias and Filippa used to live in Leksand and it still feels like home
© Emrik Jansson
Participants at the App Run event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
People who’d been caught by the Catcher Car cheered on those still running
© Emrik Jansson
Participants at the App Run event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Participants at the App Run event in Leksand
© Emrik Jansson
Getting ready to go
© Emrik Jansson
Tobias Forsberg in the centre of attention at the Leksand event
© Emrik Jansson
The 12th edition of the Wings for Life World Run will take place on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Registration to run with the App is open now, and registration to run at specific App Run Event and Flagship Run locations will open on November 6, 2024.
Stockholm City App Run Event:
Emma Olausson: 28,16 km
Marie Axelsson: 25,25 km
Sofie Roberg: 24,69 km
Jakob Cederlöf: 44,81 km
Philip Bramstång: 43,5 km
Simon Blomér: 41,84 km
Maria Norqvist: 20,87 km
Amelia benton: 17,01 km
Sofia Winge: 15,71 km
Johan Höök: 30,03 km
Jesper Nordqvist: 27,17 km
Jan Nordqvist: 26,04 km
Lemuela Wutz: 40,26 km (36th in the world!)
Filiip Jerenvik: 44,77 km
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